Method and articles for providing education related to human diversity and aquatic wildlife preservation

ABSTRACT

A mermaid doll is uniquely designed, so that a collection of dolls may be acquired, which individually come from the different seas of the world. The collection provides playmates for young children and serves as an educational tool. Each mermaid doll may have an accessory attached to it, such as an informative storybook that describes the mermaid and her environment. A method and articles are described which provide a child with an interactive mixture of information content, physical objects such as books, necklaces, and dolls, all of which are directed to instilling in the child an appreciation for endangered aquatic wildlife and human cultures. This invention therefore allows appreciation of humans and wildlife generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention herein relates to the conservation of wildlife and methods for education and promotion related to such conservation. More particularly it relates to methods for involvement of individuals, especially children, in appreciation of human diversity, and conservation of aquatic wildlife using specific endangered aquatic animals from particular seas, and a mermaid doll with human portions depicting people who live in the land surrounding that sea. This invention relates generally to dolls, and specifically to a doll that depicts a mermaid.

2. Description of the Related Art

The plight of wildlife in many areas of the world is well known. Virtually all species is somehow threatened by human activity. The threat is especially a problem in the oceans and lakes, where maintaining habitat to avoid disruption of the normal ecology of aquatic wildlife is particularly difficult. Aquatic species that were once thought resistant to changes on earth are now in danger of becoming extinct. Aquatic conservationists who are interested in preserving aquatic animals and the aquatic ecosystems must work particularly hard to attract both financial and moral support, because only limited amounts of people live around the seas and lakes.

Children, however, are known to be curious about aquatic wildlife when visiting the zoo or viewing shows about aquatic wildlife. Unfortunately, there is rarely support for this interest in a child's home. Therefore, to insure their future support in adulthood, what is needed is a playful and educational medium and method reachable by children, notwithstanding the relative indifference of their parents, so that the children can explore the real world of aquatic animals and human cultures, thereby making an active contribution to the survival and well-being of the endangered aquatic animals, while also developing a knowledge of sea life and interest in human diversity.

Successful educational programs are designed to provide a child with a series of enjoyable activities through which the child absorbs the educational information presented. Typically, the program is in the form of a toy linked to the educational information. Children learning in this manner retain and understand the information imparted for a significantly longer period than information that is presented to them in what they considered to be a dull or boring manner. Further, children absorb and understand information about significant environmental issues when the information is presented in the context of enjoyable activities and imaginative toys.

It would therefore be advantageous if there were multimedia and interactive means for presenting information about human diversity and aquatic wildlife conservation to youngsters in a manner that they would find enjoyable and which would allow them to relate to the welfare of humans and animals at an interest level appropriate to the age of the child, such that it would be likely that the interest would be maintained and grow throughout the individual's life.

Toy doll designers are constantly challenged to design toys that appeal to children and adults. Various methods are used to make toy dolls attractive or unique for collectors. For example, a doll may be designed to resemble an animal. Another method is to design a doll that resembles a person. Another method is to design a doll that has play functions, such as a voice or an animal sound. One fictional creature that stimulates the interest in young and old alike is the mermaid. The mermaid has been depicted in many forms of literature and motion pictures as a beautiful female half-human, half-fish creature. However, mermaids are not limited to being female.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a child with an interactive mixture of information content, physical objects such as dolls and wearing accessories for the doll and child, and interconnection and communication with other like-minded children and supportive adults, all of which are directed to instilling in the child an appreciation for human diversity, aquatic wildlife and interest in the conservation of endangered aquatic wildlife. A unique feature of the present invention is that it causes the child to focus on a specific human culture and aquatic animal described in a data source such as a book, and learn about the human and animal by playing with an imaginative fantasy creature in the form of a mermaid doll. The mermaid doll has an accompanying pair of accessories such as a necklace or bracelet, formed in sizes for the child and the doll to wear. This invention therefore allows the development of a bond between the child and the toy, as the child learns about the aquatic ecosystem. The present invention provides an interactive method using physical objects, through which the child learns about human cultures and forms an attachment with the specific mermaid doll and aquatic endangered animal.

Once the endangered aquatic animal has been selected and identified, the operator of this invention collects information and organizes it into a package that will appeal to children. Photographs and films are taken of the animal, information is gathered and tabulated regarding details about the animal such as its physical condition, age, size and similar characteristics, as well as information about its needs, such as the type of food it eats, the type of habitat it requires and type of interaction it has with other animals, such as predators or prey.

Such information is then made available through the process of this invention with a book accompanying the mermaid doll and necklaces. Alternatively, electronic media such as CDs, DVDs, videotapes or cassettes may be used to present the information. As part of present invention, the operator selects and identifies the animals, collects and assembles all of the aquatic animal-related information and creates the information media, preferably a storybook.

Therefore, in a principal embodiment, the invention involves a method for promotion of and education regarding human cultural diversity, and aquatic wildlife which comprises providing a mermaid doll; identifying an individual aquatic endangered animal; compiling a database comprising a first body of information regarding said animal and a second body of information regarding humans providing a doll toy necklace having a first charm representation of said aquatic animal, said charm including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal; providing a human necklace having a second charm representation of said aquatic animal, said representation including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal; providing access and an opportunity to purchase said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces, to a person; requiring a first monetary payment by said person for access to at least a portion of said database and for purchase of said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces.

In another embodiment, the invention involves an educational and play article having a configuration that is a recognizable effigy of the animal selected and identified in the method described above.

Numerous other embodiments and objects will be evident from the description below.

The invention is a beautiful mermaid doll that has unique accompanying accessories that depict sea creatures and animals. The invention provides a playmate for young children, but is also a collectable. Each doll has an informative storybook that describes her unique background, and has accessories reflecting an indigenous human culture. Several dolls with unique features and accompanying accessories can be collected as a learning and playing set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the various components of the present invention and of their interrelation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment for a toy representing the doll illustrated in FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention is best understood by reference to FIG. 1. A mermaid doll 10 depicting a human is first selected by an operator 12. The mermaid doll 10 may have culturally distinguishing and racially unique features as the human portion. The mermaid doll 10 is selected, and so is an endangered aquatic animal 14. Generally, the endangered aquatic animal 12 will be of interest to a child 16.

Once the animal 14 is selected, information 18 about the habits and behavior of the animal 14 are collected. For example, the activities of the animal 14 are described in text. The information 18 may also be compiled for presentation in CDs, DVDs, and similar media.

The information 18 regarding the life and activities of the aquatic endangered animal 12 in the sea, its endangered status, the reasons for the endangerment, and other information which is of interest to the child 16 (and perhaps also to their parents) is collected and incorporated into the content of the text or media, such as the internet 21. This content will of course be carefully edited and organized to provide high attraction to the child 16. Such editing and organization will commonly include creation of attractive graphic representations for the information 18, and insertion of photographs. The information 18 presented is carefully checked to insure it is accurate and easily comprehended.

The operator 12 may work in conjunction with one or more general aquatic wildlife organizations 20 that work for freshwater and marine habitat preservation. This interaction will include funding for the wildlife organization 20 from the operator 12 which can be reciprocated by the wildlife organization 20, which provides the operator 12 with information and materials related to freshwater and marine wildlife generally, and the interactions of humans living around sea areas. The method of this invention enhances the education of the child 16, knowledge and interest regarding human cultures that live around and depend on the seas. Also, marine and freshwater habitat preservation is taught.

It will be recognized that the method of this invention thus is a significant educational tool for teaching children about the diversity of human cultures that interact with the seas, and the marine and freshwater environments and conservation. It has long been recognized that children learn best and retain longer what they learn if the learning activity is fin to them. The integrated aspects of the mermaid doll 10, a fantasy creature which readily gains the attention of the child 16, in the present method thus attract the interest of children and provide them with enjoyable activities in which they learn as they play. The method of the present invention thus represents a unique combination of learning and conservation that is mutually beneficial to both children and aquatic creatures.

Turning to FIG. 2, the doll 10 has a body 22 formed to resemble a mermaid. The body 22 consists of a head 24 rotatably coupled to a torso 26. A neck 28 extends between the head 24 and the torso 26. The head 24 has hair, which may be any one of a variety of colors.

Each one of a pair of arms 29 and 30 is attached to the torso 26. Each of the arms 29 and 30 is preferably rotatably attached to the torso 26, so that the arms 29 and 30 can rotate 360 degrees. Each of a pair of elbows 32 and 34 on the arms 29 and 30 may be slightly bent.

A lower body section 36 is hingedly connected to the torso 26. The movable connection between the torso 26 and the lower body section 36 imparts flexibility to the doll 10 in the waist area.

A fin 38 is hingedly connected to the lower body section 36. The moveable connection between the lower body section 36 and the fin 38 imparts flexibility in the doll 10 to an extent that allows the operator 12 depicted in FIG. 1 to configure the doll 10 into a sitting position. Also, the doll 10 is flexible enough to simulate various swimming techniques, for when the operator 12 wishes to have the doll 10 imitate a swimming mermaid. The hinge connections are preferably formed by a rod or pin (not shown) that serves as an axis of rotation for the hinge connection. Alternative connections can be used, such as a ball and socket joint, as standard body part connections in the doll making industry are readily substituted. The fin 38, the head 24, and the pair of arms 29 and 30 are all rotatably connected by ball and socket joints (not shown). The head 24 rotates 360° on the torso 26.

The doll 10 may be dressed in various accessories. For example, the shoulders of the doll 10 are broad for holding a necklace 40 as an accessory. The necklace 40 may have a charm 42 attached to it, such as a toy animal. The doll 10 will be covered with removable clothing. Preferably, the fabric will be a stretchable fabric and have bright and creative patterns attractive to the child 16. The top half of the doll 10 may be covered with a shirt or a bikini top.

The doll provides a playmate for young children, but may also serve as an educational tool. For example, the toy animal on the necklace 40 for the doll 10 may be an endangered animal. A booklet accompanying the doll 10 would describe and educate about the particular endangered animal and its habitat.

Additionally, sophisticated adult doll collectors may collect the doll 10. It is contemplated that the doll 10 is collectable with other dolls, as a set of dolls, the set being limited by the association to a theme. For example, a doll having clothing and accessories reflecting the animals, people, and cultures of a particular sea on earth may be made for each ocean, and each doll associated with each ocean is collected as a set of dolls.

It will be evident that there are numerous embodiments of the present invention which are not expressly described above, but which are clearly within the scope and spirit of the invention. The above description is to be considered exemplary only, and the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the claims. 

1. A doll comprising an improved body, wherein the entirety of said body is shaped to resemble a mermaid, a head rotatably coupled to a torso, a pair of arms rotatably supported by said torso, a lower body section hingedly coupled to said torso, and a fin hingedly connected to said lower body section, so that said doll is able to be configured into a sitting position.
 2. The doll of claim 1, wherein said doll has at least one accessory attached thereto.
 3. The doll of claim 2, wherein said accessory is a toy animal.
 4. The doll of claim 1, wherein said accessory is a necklace.
 5. The doll of claim 3, wherein said animal is shaped to depict an endangered animal.
 6. The doll of claim 2, wherein said accessory is a booklet having information about the doll.
 7. The doll of claim 1, wherein said doll is about 18 inches in length.
 8. A method for promotion of and education regarding human diversity and endangered wildlife which comprises: providing a clothed mermaid doll; identifying an endangered aquatic animal; compiling a database comprising a first body of information regarding said animal and a second body of information regarding humans; providing a doll toy necklace having a first charm representation of said aquatic animal, said charm including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal; providing a human necklace having a second charm representation of said aquatic animal, said representation including indicia recognizably related to said aquatic animal; providing access and an opportunity to purchase said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces, to a person; requiring a first monetary payment by said person for access to at least a portion of said database and for purchase of said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces; and apportioning a part of said first monetary payment to maintenance of aquatic wildlife.
 9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising providing merchandise related to said mermaid doll, said database, and said necklaces and providing means through a global computer network system for said person to purchase said merchandise for a second monetary payment, and apportioning a part of said second monetary payment to maintenance and support of aquatic wildlife generally.
 10. A method as in claim 8 further comprising said access to said database comprising an interactive exchange between said person and said database through said electronic media or through a computer link to a global computer network system.
 11. A method as in claim 8 further comprising collection of a plurality of individual mermaid dolls, databases, and necklaces, each of which is of a different variety or species.
 12. A method as in claim 8 further comprising said person being a child of any age. 